Play is of great importance to children, not only for the enjoyment and fun it affords, but also for the powerful contribution it makes to their learning and development. Outdoor play in natural environments provides children with opportunities to release energy, express strong feelings and …

This week our class took part in a Forest School session all about the elder tree, a native Irish species full of history, magic, and uses. We explored its leaves, bark, berries, and seeds while learning folklore stories like The Dagda’s Harp and The Elder …

Last term, this class had eight Forest School sessions. From the summer term through to autumn, we usually keep the children in the same groups, with the same leader and at the same base, making small adjustments if needed. By the time autumn arrives, it’s …

It was so special for Junior Infants to show their parents what they’ve been learning and doing and creating in Forest School. Before we got to base camp we played some games and found really interesting things in nature to show our adults. Once in …

We loved welcoming parents to Forest School this week. For both children and adults, spending time creating and playing and learning and being with each other is precious. The photos below give a flavour of the special day. Liz’s group Deborah’s group Jenny’s group

On the 5th of June, we, the Student Council, went on a very exciting trip to Leinster House in Dublin. We got the bus into the city and had to use our Leap Cards. The journey took around 45 minutes, but it felt like forever… …

Getting to know common hogweed Common hogweed is a plant that is very common and beneficial for lots of pollinators. And as you can see below we found evidence of a leaf miner enjoying the benefits of hogweed. It’s like the leaf miner is drawing …

Getting to know Common Hogweed This week we were noticing and exploring Common Hogweed. We smelled it. We looked closely. We asked questions. We drew it. We didn’t touch it though as its sap can irritate some people’s skin. Hogweed’s flowers are pollinator’s friends. The …

Ribbit Ribbit Raffle Raffle! Hop Hop Hooray!! Much ‘gratitoad’ to you all!! Your kindness is ‘un-frog-getable’! A huge thank you to everyone who supported our raffle which raised €7,765 for the refurbishment of our pond area. The pond has always been a major focus in …

Getting to know the elder tree We met the elder tree today. We smelled her flowers and leaves. We touched her smooth young bark and her older bumpy woody bark. We wondered. We heard stories and had a letter from the elder tree via the …